Audio signal levels explained: Mic level vs line level vs instrument level

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We explain mic level, instrument level and line level, but also 3 other signal levels that are useful to know: speaker level, phono level and modular level.

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00:00 Line Level
00:45 Mic Level
01:14 Instrument Level
02:20 Phono Level
02:51 Speaker Level
03:43 Modular Level

[arbitersofsound]

If you have any specific questions about your cables and connections, leave us a comment, or ask us on Discord 😃

[darwinsaye]

I think one thing you should have mentioned was headphone level. It’s quite common for people to use a headphone out when there is no line out available, and some people say this is safe as long as you keep the gain level coming out of the headphone out, very low. Another thing that is generally not clearly understood is preamp level. I have heard contradictory things about whether preamp level is the same as line level, and how these compare to the level that typically comes out of guitar pedals.

[tuneroneff]

Thank you so much for shring for all of us. The don't have a very clear understanding.

[ProckGnosis]

When I was a poor college student YEARS ago, before I bought an amp that could distort, I would plug my electric guitar into the phono (record player) jacks on my home stereo system, and voila...nice distortion effect! And excellent presentation...thanks for the effort and for posting it...cheers!

[geossphere]

Phenomenal video quality, sound and presentation. Thank you!

[imediatv]

can i connect a line level output to a mic level device like my wireless mics live rode wireless PRO?

[Prodcmarty]

This is great info! Clean presentation🔥

[curtgozaydin]

I love the summary of line level and all the other signal levels. When I was younger with guitar amplifiers and such a microphones and PA systems, I used to know this backwards and forwards, but this is a great summary. The only thing I thought maybe just maybe you could’ve added was to talk about headphone output headphones levels are usually weird because I think they meant to drive a different impedance either I don’t know 100 homes or 600 homes or something so I forget any of the details of what a headphone output level is other than if you put the output of one of those into the input of your guitar amplifier. It usually distorted it like crazy. So “Great Video” but Just curious about “headphone level. 😊

[jamileslartey]

Super helpful! Where would a headphone signal factor into this? Intuitively I would think they are on the spectrum between a high line-level signal and a low speaker voltage signal? Technically they are powering passive speakers... but people often use headphone outs and line outs interchangeably.

[Hari-Photo-Videos]

Which connection is good for camcoder XLR inputs, and which connection is good to connect audio interface and conecting via USB. Also please explain how connect usb sound card to mixer output.

[horacio_llegolamiel]

Great video, many thanks. Although in Instrument level (1:35) you say the cables to use are UNBALANCED TS, in Speaker level chapter (3:34) you say “commonly use mono UNBALANCED TS”, but you also say “ALWAYS use a SPEAKER cable, NEVER use an INSTR. cable”… Is this not contradictory? Which one is right? This also brings me another question.. how do you distinguish a BALANCED from an UNBALANCED TS cable?? Thanks!

[mflynn]

Thx for this video! I connect my guitar to an amp modeler (Helix) and use it in 1 of 3 ways: A) to an amp B) to a mixer C) to a powered FRFR speaker. When connecting to an amp I set the Helix out to 'instrument level' and when connecting to a mixer or FRFR I set the Helix output to 'line level'. Question 1: Is that correct? Question 2: In all 3 scenarios I am using a standard TS instrument cable. Does that matter?

[diiegopc]

and what about headphone inputs and outputs?

[Zzibbubby]

I have a question: I have a yamaha ex5 (quite an old keyboard) and I would like to connect it to an audio interface (behringer umc204hd) to use the Ex5's sounds (both mono and stereo possibly) on my DAW. should I use TS or TRS cables?

[LastExceed]

Love the graph! What signal level do headphones use? judging by your responses to other comments it seems to somewhat overlap with the lower end of line level. does it have a name?

[steveohlssen]

Very informative, thank you, but my question is:
I have a guitar headphone amp (Boss Katana Go) with headphone output. I love the tones, can I use it at a live bar/open mic? This would require connecting it to a mixer. I assume I can easily do this if they have an aux in. However, how could I connect to one of the standard line inputs? (In case their mixer doesn’t have aux in)

[saigonpilots]

Hi there, thanks for the great presentation. I connected my digital piano Yamaha DGX660 left/left+right output to the DI/instrument input of the preamp Focusrite ISA One. They seemed and worked fine. Nothing blew up, I did not hear any distortion or weird noise etc. Did I potentially damage the DI/Instrument input of the ISA One? I now use the DI/Instrument input of the ISA One for my Fender bass and it seemed fine, produced good sound. Thanks!

[wojciechstecyszyn]

Nice, very informative, thank you. Can you help me with this one: I want to buy an interface (Arturia Minifuse 4) that (except 2 combo inputs) has two 1/4" TRS balanced line inputs on the back and I wonder if I can connect my passive guitar or bass to it and have a decent input signal. Will Di-Box help here? Passive or active? Or maybe my guitar amp or ZOOM multiefect pedal work fine as a preamp? Thanks for help in advance.

[invictus]

Where does an iPhone output fall? I have plugged it into a 'LINE IN' port on various devices, but it also drives head phone speakers. I am currently wanting to plug my iPhone into the line in port of a mobile ham radio, and the volume is very low.

[NiamorH]

Which vintage keyboards and synths do you have in mind that use instrument level with high Z ?
From what I have seen, all of the virtual analog from 90's are using line level and I don't think any have high Z (although 90's synths are more on the modern side of vintage).
Maybe I am misleading though?